inquisitiveness
the quality of being given to asking questions; intellectual curiosity or eagerness for knowledge: Younger students often have an amazing sense of curiosity and inquisitiveness that naturally leads them into exploring and learning.
the quality of being excessively or inappropriately curious about other people’s affairs; nosiness: My landlord's inquisitiveness made me determined to seek more desirable accommodations elsewhere.
Origin of inquisitiveness
1Other words from inquisitiveness
- su·per·in·quis·i·tive·ness, noun
- un·in·quis·i·tive·ness, noun
Words Nearby inquisitiveness
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use inquisitiveness in a sentence
This ever-curious beagle and I would explore the planet together, with his inquisitive nose always leading the way.
Traveling through the pandemic in the company of dogs | Walter Nicklin | December 18, 2020 | Washington PostBrowne was an inquisitive youth with a “try anything” attitude that didn’t always work when he was fiddling with muskets and gunpowder, or when he joined a circus and volunteered to ride a bicycle across a high wire.
Crack open the best 2020 wine books for rich history, international politics and a vintner’s lively memoir | Dave McIntyre | December 11, 2020 | Washington PostBridging the Two CulturesBy Priyamvada NatarajanI was an inquisitive child and my parents encouraged me and actively cultivated my curiosity.
Five Scientists on the Heroes Who Changed Their Lives - Issue 93: Forerunners | Alan Lightman, Hope Jahren, Robert Sapolsky, | December 2, 2020 | NautilusWe don’t have to use a telescope, or a microscope, or spend a billion dollars to study it — just an inquisitive eye.
But, thankfully, Dyer disobeys his hero and himself and gets all pondery, letting his inquisitiveness off the chain.
Geoff Dyer Takes on Andrei Tarkovsky’s Film ‘Stalker’ in ‘Zona’ | Chris Wallace | February 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
And yet, her inquisitiveness and restless mind seem to make it hard for her to be a full-on believer.
You will pardon the inquisitiveness of an old man, but are not you musicians a most impressionable lot?
The Fifth String | John Philip SousaThe leader of the band, who went by the name of Black Will, muttered a curse upon his inquisitiveness.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend | Charles Reade"We have had a terrible time of it, Mr. McGaw," stated Mayo, avoiding the mate's inquisitiveness.
Blow The Man Down | Holman DayThe man chained to his rock pile doubted the wisdom of his question, but African inquisitiveness had mastered his better judgment.
The Code of the Mountains | Charles Neville BuckThe only quality, indeed, in him that still continued to jar upon them was his phenomenal inquisitiveness.
With Airship and Submarine | Harry Collingwood
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